The time has finally arrived. Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that places tougher restrictions on drivers caught texting and driving, a major distraction.
Beginning in July, law enforcement officers will have the authority to pull a driver over and give them a ticket for texting while they’re behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, with a few exceptions. Drivers can, however, use their phone if the vehicle is stopped.
Texting while driving has remained illegal in Florida for a number of years, but law enforcement officers cannot stop a driver because it is a secondary offense. Due to this, the law is rarely enforced. In fact, fewer than 1,800 tickets were issued for this offense in 2018, according to the Miami Herald.
For those concerned about using their phone for purposes other than texting such as GPS, drivers will still be able to use their phones for navigation, placing a phone call, or reading emergency messages, such as a weather alert, for example. The exception to this is in work and school zones, where drivers are prohibited from using their phones except for an emergency.
To read more about the texting while driving bill recently signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, please visit the Miami Herald:https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article230519664.html?fbclid=IwAR0yzL3YlIl-yXSvRTWa3mRaYmWfMPqgzNQBrQaszqRMPDTCVnnYOoWaqGs.
This update is brought to you by the Miami traffic attorney team of Hochman & Goldin, P.A. We can assist you with criminal traffic violations and are ready to answer your questions. Please call 305-665-1000 to speak with a red light camera violation attorney today.